Paganella: The dwindling band of brothers

Sunday

Nov 11, 2012 at 12:01 AMNov 11, 2012 at 11:05 AM

If you attend an event commemorating this Veterans Day, look to your side and see if there are some folks missing that were there in previous years. I had two veterans beside of me last year. That made a total of three of us there. I wonder if they will be there this year.

Nick Paganella/Guest columnist

If you attend an event commemorating this Veterans Day, look to your side and see if there are some folks missing that were there in previous years. I had two veterans beside of me last year. That made a total of three of us there. I wonder if they will be there this year.

Meanwhile, attendance at Veterans Day events and ceremonies is dwindling each decade. I can recall over the past seven decades this diminishing trend. It is easily evident. Just look – if you go.

This can be attributed to many factors.

One main reason for the dwindling participation is the lack of a direct involvement in the military by a close family member or relative. People identify when something touches them directly. Today only one half of one percent of the entire population are serving. In that perspective, picture a wooden bridge over a small stream. Based on a 360 million total population, there is one person standing on one side of that bridge and 359 standing on the other side.

In a similar perspective, during World War II there were 16 million (11.2 percent) serving in the military. That puts 11 folks on one side of that bridge and 89 on the other.

During the Vietnam War, 4 percent served, putting four on one side and 96 on the other.

During the war on terror, .45 percent served, putting less than 1 American in uniform on one side of the bridge and 99 on the other.

There have also been changes in the perception of the military. Paul, one of two long-time veterans beside me last year summed it up: “In some circles, you will be thought as less than normal for having worn the uniform.”

Paul, a retired teacher and veteran, told me he overheard by a fellow teacher tell a student, “Joe, you’re a smart guy, you don’t have to join the military. You should go to college instead.”

Harold, another veteran at my side, explained the government replaced the compulsory draft with the volunteer military because “they couldn’t put up with all the protests.” Then he added, “it turned out they (protesters) had some good points.”

He quoted John E. Hamilton, the VFW Commander-in-Chief , who said, “when the draft was eliminated 40 years ago, so was the average family’s incentive for staying tuned to the armed forces. (There was) no reason for the typical American to take a genuine interest in the military.”

By this time the town selectman and the veteran’s service officer were concluding their remarks to the sparse crowd. The two vets stepped away, both agreeing that veterans’ feelings are perceived as different depending on the time they served. This reflects on the different organizations and veterans’ groups that have formed (or not formed).

“Aside of those who served during actual hostilities,” Paul added. “ There are the Cold War veterans who contributed at a vital time to defend if needed. I’m one of them.”

So this year, I’ll hope the same two aging veterans will be aside of me again offering, new perspectives, especially now that the elections are over. If they’re not there, I’ll have to talk to myself, which I’ve been doing a lot lately.

Nicholas Paganella lives in Framingham and can be reached at antrim@rcn.com

Community groups

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Sudbury Town Crier ~ 33 New York Ave., Framingham MA 01701 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service